BioNJ prepares CEO summit to explore key issues to industry

By ,
September 30, 2013 at 1:40 PM

BioNJ, a trade group supporting New Jersey's biotech cluster, is holding its first annual CEO summit Friday, inviting leaders of the state's life science companies to address the state of the industry.

The daylong event begins at 7 a.m. with closing remarks scheduled at 5 p.m., at the Bridgewater Marriott, at 700 Commons Way.

Morning keynotes include Andre Wyss, an executive at Novartis Corp., who will discuss why a diversified clinical pipeline is vital to innovation and bringing new medicines to the marketplace.

In addition, Amicus Therapeutics Inc. CEO John Crowley will discuss his experiences through biotech startups, including paths to financings, teambuilding, drug development, strategic partnerships and exits.

The event also contains targeted panels that will address topics such as the state of the capital markets, opportunities for initial public offerings and trends in outsourcing.

"Access to capital is not a new issue to biotech; it's the issue, and has been since the beginning," James Marino, a partner at Dechert LLP, who will lead a panel on financing strategies, said in a statement. "And today, it's not even a question of whether new ways to access capital are needed; they are a necessity. There are new ideas out there, but which ones are working — and what's the best new thinking just beyond the horizon?"

Aptalis Pharma President John Fraher will moderate a panel on how to maximize benefits and reduce risks of outsourcing. Another panel, titled "Billion Dollar Babies," will examine challenges and achievements facing several growing companies.

Registration costs $550 for BioNJ members and $650 for future members.

For more information or to register, visit bionj.org/ceosummit2013/home-3 or call 609-890-3185.